He's at the bar downtown. Tom's.
I sink back into the plush leather seat of Danny's car as we zoom down the familiar streets after receiving Sasha's text, the dim city lights painting streaks of gold across the darkened windows. It's time for a little payback and the anticipation dances within me like an electric current. Tom's Bar is where it'll all go down, where we'll finally confront the tangled mess of emotions that threaten to consume us whole. We're going to take Xander out, a bit of payback for trashing our auditorium. We have one month left until the dance competition, and he's successfully taken away our dance area. Now, we have to find a new one, and we don't fucking have time for that.
Momentarily pushing thoughts of Xander aside, jealousy claws at my insides like a feral beast, gnawing on the remnants of my wounded pride. Danny, my so-called friend, has managed to slip into Faith's bed, leaving Theo and me grappling with a torrent of conflicting emotions. I grit my teeth, struggling to tame the fire of resentment that crackles within me. How dare he be the one to bask in her warmth while we stand on the sidelines, consumed by a mix of longing and anger. Damn it, my emotions run deeper than I expected. Faith has captured my attention, my heart held hostage by her infectious laughter and those eyes that shimmer with a world of untold stories. She's become a constant in my thoughts, a bright beacon in the chaos of my mind. And that's what scares me the most — the possibility that I'm falling for her, despite the tangled web she's woven with Danny. I kissed her first. I had her first. So what does this mean for us? Was Danny serious when he suggested sharing her? He seemed to be. But Faith doesn't seem like the type. And if she's not, then she has to choose. We're not her puppets.
The car jolts to a stop outside Tom's, its neon sign casting an ethereal glow upon the rain-soaked pavement. I take a deep breath, pushing thoughts of Faith aside, steeling myself for what lies ahead. The familiar hum of music and laughter wafts through the air, mingling with the scent of spilled beer and late-night regrets. Tonight, everything changes.
As I step out onto the slick sidewalk, a chill wind whips through my jacket, teasing me with a promise of the unknown. With each step, my heart beats in tandem with the rhythm of the city, as if echoing the trepidation that courses through my veins. I weave through the pulsating crowd, my eyes scanning the faces, searching for Xander and his crew amidst the chaos. Danny and Theo flank me, and I can feel the angry vibrations coming off my best friends.
"There," Danny says, and I spot Xander almost immediately, sitting at the bar surrounded by his cronies. As if he senses our presence, he turns on the bar stool and smirks at us. So do the three other guys with him.
"Well, well, well," Xander says. "If it isn't the three amigos."
"Speak carefully, asshole," Theo says, his tone dripping with venom. "We're not here to make friends."
"Then why are you here?"
Danny steps up, joining my side, and cracks his knuckles. "You destroyed the school's auditorium, douchebag."
"Ah," Xander says with a snicker. He slides off the bar stool to face us, and three of his douchebag friends flank him, ready to fight. "You got my note, did ya?"
"Why?" I ask. I'm not exactly looking forward to a fight, but I'll take him on if necessary. It's not even entirely about the auditorium. It's about Faith, too. I know he paid her a visit, and it's that fact alone that has the rage boiling just beneath the surface, ready to erupt into a violent frenzy.
No one threatens our teammates. Fucking no one.
"Why?" Xander repeats. He grins. I want to punch that stupid grin right off his fucking face. Maybe I will. "Because I can, man. I think it's about time you assholes came back down to earth, anyway. You're mighty full of yourselves."
"Listen," Danny says, stepping in front of me before I can throw a punch. "We just want you to back off, man. Let's keep this professional, yeah? It's about the dance, so let's stick to that."
I know he's trying to come to a peaceful agreement, and as much as I want to bust Xander's face in, getting in trouble for fighting isn't what any of us need right now. Even if I want to kill him.
"Professional?" Xander repeats, leering at us. "Oh, you mean wanting to fuck Faith isn't professional enough for you?"
It happens before I can even think about stopping it. I lunge forward, my fist connecting directly with Xander's face. With a cry of surprise and pain, he falls backward, stumbling, and one of his friends catches him before he hits the ground. Before he can compose himself, his friends lunge for us, and a painful jab to my stomach makes me double over in pain as Theo and Danny throw their own punches. Blood seeps from Xander's nose, but that doesn't slow him down as he jumps on me, his fist connecting with my mouth. I fall backward and into a bar table, unable to hear what the bartender is shouting at us between the landing punches and cries of pain and surprise. Because it's so late, the bar is almost empty, but the last few people there look on in horror as the table collapses beneath my weight. I hit the floor, and a rush of air is forced from my chest, leaving me breathless. Pain radiates through my body as I catch the one word that none of us wants to hear.
Police.
"Fuck!" Theo yells, and I feel his hands beneath my arms as he drags me off the floor and into a standing position. "We gotta go."
I don't hesitate, and neither do Theo and Danny as we bail out of the bar, racing for the car to get off the premises before the cops show up to bust us. Xander is shouting at us, but I don't hear what he's yelling. I don't care. The next time I see him, I'll finish the job. He can hold me to it.
***
The boys and I wind up back at the house with a bottle of whiskey that we pass around, shit-talking Xander and his crew while each shot gets us a little bit drunker. I'm fucking livid, and I want to kill Xander for the things he said about Faith. The mere fact that he came to our school and threatened her has me up in arms already, but he keeps pushing us, provoking. My heart is heavy with an ache I can't seem to shake off, an anger that keeps growing, threatening to take over. The room swirls around me, blurring the edges of my vision. The temptation to call my usual hookup girl, Lindsay, tugs at my consciousness, but tonight, my heart yearns for someone else - Faith. Faith, with her radiant smile that lights up the darkest corners of my soul. Faith, whose presence makes me feel alive, loved, and understood. Faith, the one person I can't seem to get off my mind, no matter how hard I try.
"Hey, you okay, man?" Danny's concerned voice brings me back to the present moment.
"Yeah, just a bit tired," I mumble, trying to mask the internal turmoil I'm experiencing. I know we're all feeling it, but I happen to wear my emotions on my sleeve, and Danny has always been able to tell.
The room spins, and my thoughts are a jumbled mess. I need to see Faith. Maybe just being near her would soothe this ache in my chest. With a drunken determination, I announce to my friends that I'm heading to Faith's dorm.
"Are you sure? You've had quite a few drinks," Theo cautions.
I wave off his concern, stumbling towards the door. "I'll be fine. I just want to check on her, make sure she's alright. I'll walk."
Before either of them can respond, I'm out the door. The cool night air hits my face as I navigate the familiar path to Faith's dormitory. Each step feels heavier than the last, and my heart pounds loudly in my ears. Doubts and fears swirl within me, but I can't turn back now. I have to see her.
As I approach her building, my steps slow, my mind filled with uncertainty. What am I doing here? What if she's angry that I came? Has she heard about the fight with Xander? Is she sleeping?
I stand before the entrance to her dorm, my hand hovering above the doorknob. I want to go in, to see her, to tell her how I feel. How we all feel. But the fear of rejection paralyzes me, and I can't bring myself to move.
Just then, the door creaks open, and a figure emerges. It's Faith's roommate, Tara. My heart sinks as she looks my way, recognition dawning on her face. There's no hiding now; she knows it's me, and she knows my intentions.
"Mark?" Her voice is laced with surprise and suspicion. "What are you doing here?"
My mind races for an excuse, but all I can manage is a weak smile. "Hey, just wanted to see how Faith is doing. Is she home?"
Her gaze lingers on me for a moment, as if she can see right through my façade. "Is it urgent? She's asleep." She hesitates a moment, her brows furrowing. "Are you okay? You look a bit off."
"I'm fine, just checking on her," I repeat, my voice unconvincing even to my own ears.
Tara's concern deepens, and she steps closer. "Mark, if there's something going on with you and Faith, you should talk to her when you're sober. Don't just lurk around like this. It's not fair to either of you."
I nod, my throat tight with emotions I can't articulate. She's right, of course. But how do I tell Faith how I feel when the fear of rejection is so overpowering?
With a heavy heart, I turn away from the dorm, realizing that I can't face Faith tonight. My emotions are too raw, and my mind too clouded. As I walk back to our house, the weight of my unspoken feelings settles upon my shoulders, and I can't help but wonder if I'll ever find the courage to tell Faith the truth, to lay my heart bare before her. Until then, I'll continue to drown in this sea of longing, wishing for a love that feels just out of reach.
The worst part is, I'm not the only one who feels this way towards her, either. How are we supposed to manage that?